Below is a list with tagged columns and company profiles.

Today's Headlines Governance

  • Inefficient Use of Indonesia's State Budget; Fake Villages & Local Public Officials’ High Travel Expenses

    It is assumed by many that the Indonesian government does not make efficient use of the annual state budgets. This is also the reason why Indonesian President Joko Widodo stated recently that one of his key ambitions for the next five years is to make more efficient use of the state budget (“each rupiah of the state budget needs to be used productively”).

    Read more ›

  • Indonesia Launches One Map Policy Geoportal to Improve Investment Climate

    The Indonesian government launched the One Map Policy Geoportal (KSP Geoportal). This policy involves a more detailed map of land use, hence aiming at resolving overlapping claims - as well as preventing the emergence of new cases - across the country, including in forest areas. The map was launched by Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Tuesday (11/12).

    Read more ›

  • Meikarta, One of Indonesia's Troubled Property Projects?

    Although in local media Indonesian property developer Lippo Cikarang is aggressively advertising its ambitious Meikarta project to the consumer, there is uncertainty whether the developer indeed collected all necessary permits required to construct the new township. Meikarta is marketed as a 500-hectare property development project with 100 hectares of open green space, 250,000 units of prime residential property, and 1,500,000 m2 of prime commercial space.

    Read more ›

  • What is the Biggest Obstacle to Business & Investment in Indonesia?

    Not the lack of (soft and hard) infrastructure development in Indonesia, or the lack of quality human resources, nor corruption or protectionism but the difficulty to obtain the necessary permits from the local governments are the biggest obstacle to investment and business in Indonesia according to a survey that was conducted by the Regional Autonomy Watch (KPPOD) in the 32 regional capital cities across the Archipelago.

    Read more ›

  • Survey Shows High Degree of Confidence in Jokowi's Indonesia

    A survey from Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) shows that Indonesians' confidence in the performance of President Joko Widodo's government has risen. The survey signals that some 67 percent of the Indonesian population are satisfied with the government's performance, significantly higher compared to 42 percent in 2015. Reform-minded Widodo, often called Jokowi, has been in office since October 2014. However, he has to guide the nation amid global and domestic challenges (sluggish economic growth, low commodity prices and monetary policy changes of key central banks that trigger capital inflows/outflows).

    Read more ›

  • Weak Governance in Indonesian Mining Sector: Overlapping Mining Areas

    R. Sukhyar, Director of Mineral and Coal at the Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said that 184 mining business licenses (Indonesian: Izin Usaha Pertambangan, or IUP), needed for exploration and mining activities, have been revoked this June because of overlapping mining areas and illegal administration. The revoked permits concerned mining areas in Jambi (99 revoked licenses), South Sumatra (83), and South Sulawesi (2). This case is another illustration of weak governance in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.

    Read more ›

  • Continued Emergence of Scandals Undermines Trust in Indonesian Politics

    Today, most Indonesian newspapers opened with negative headlines concerning the country's political arena. In Indonesian politics, scandals - whether connected to corruption or other issues - are frequently reported and seriously undermine people's (both domestic and foreign) confidence in the nation's governance. In today's newspapers, three cases were center of attention and illustrate the problems within Indonesia's political elite.

    Read more ›

Latest Columns Governance

  • Expat’s Perspective on Indonesian Bureaucracy & Police Practices: Arranging a Driver’s License & Vehicle Registration

    Throughout my life in Indonesia I have noticed that when dealing with government institutions, for example when arranging a residence permit (KITAS/KITAP), a work permit (IMTA) or a building permit (IMB), there are two options: (1) do everything according to official guidelines (based on laws, regulations, and policies) but expect to see a delay, or (2) pay a higher price at the start but ‘get things done quickly’.

    Read more ›

  • Perennial Fuel Subsidy Dilemma; After Raising Prices, Indonesia Needs to Brace for High Inflation

    While one month ago we read (in Indonesian media) that Indonesian President Joko Widodo vowed no increase in prices of subsidized fuels before the end of 2022, the situation suddenly changed. Based on reports in Indonesian media in the second half of August 2022 there were growing signs that the government was busy preparing a significant increase in prices of subsidized fuels (involving Pertalite and Pertamax gasoline fuels as well as automotive diesel oil) to safeguard a healthy budget balance for the government.

    Read more ›

  • Reason for Concern? Indonesia Falls Significantly in the 2022 Global Competitiveness Ranking

    In the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook (2022) Indonesia ranked 44th overall (out a total of 63), which is significantly weaker than last year’s ranking (37th). While Indonesia’s investment and business environment is known to be plagued by several structural bottlenecks, we did witness an (overall) improving trend in the country’s rankings in global competitiveness indices over the past decade or so.

    Read more ›

  • How Are Jakarta’s Authorities & Residents Handling the COVID-19 Crisis?

    Better late than never! On 10 April 2020 large-scale social restrictions were imposed in the capital city of Jakarta through Jakarta Gubernatorial Regulation No. 33/2020, and Jakarta Gubernatorial Decree No. 380/2020. The regulation and decree, which both aim at curtailing the further spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Jakarta, were imposed around five weeks after the very first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Indonesia (namely in Depok, a city located within the Jakarta metropolitan area).

    Read more ›

  • Looking Back at 2017 & Forward to 2018: Widodo's Performance

    It was a solid year for the Indonesian economy. The macroeconomic fundamentals of the nation have strengthened due to the hard work of the Indonesian government under the leadership of President Joko Widodo. However, there is no room for complacency as there remain major bottlenecks, while legislative and presidential elections - in which voters can approve or disapprove Widodo's performance - are scheduled for 2019.

    Read more ›

  • Will Indonesia Move the Capital Away from Jakarta & Java Island?

    The Indonesian government is still studying the possibility of building a new capital city in Indonesia, thus replacing Jakarta that has become overcrowded with approximately 10 million official residents (the real figure may be much higher as many unregistered Indonesians live in the capital). Moreover, every morning there is a huge inflow of people (originating from the satellite cities around Jakarta) who are heading to their office or place of work. This causes great pressure on the city's fragile infrastructure.

    Read more ›

  • Difficulties for Indonesia to Join the Trans-Pacific Partnership

    Indonesia has always been hesitant to join free-trade deals with other nations on fears that domestic industries cannot compete with foreign counterparts, which could lead to an influx of cheaper, yet higher-quality foreign products. During his visit to the White House, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said Indonesia intends to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal. Back home, this statement led to concern. What are the negative consequences for Indonesia when joining this deal?

    Read more ›

  • Regulatory Uncertainty Plagues Indonesia’s Mining Sector Again

    One of the weak points of Indonesia, one that seriously hurts the country’s investment climate as well as foreign confidence, is regulatory uncertainty. In 2009 the government of Indonesia introduced Law No. 4/2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining (New Mining Law) which caused a shock in Indonesia’s natural resources sector as it includes several new policies that make investors think twice before investing in Indonesia as the consequences of these new policies are far-reaching. However, a possible new amendment to the law causes new concern.

    Read more ›

  • Joko Widodo’s Political & Economic Agenda: Future of Jokowi’s Indonesia?

    When campaigning, presidential candidates will always promise a bright future in order to gain votes. It is particularly easy for a new presidential candidate to promise golden mountains as opposed to the incumbent president who needs to be more cautious making promises as people can point to the (failed) results of his promises during the presidential term. The 2014 Indonesian presidential election was particularly interesting as we saw two new presidential candidates and, thus, the ‘inflation of promises’.

    Read more ›

No business profiles with this tag